2026-27 U.S. Ice Dance

[BlissfulSynergy]

OIP/ Jordan Cowan has posted a clip of Car/Pom. I don't know if it's one of their new programs or an exhibition. I think it's Manon, so probably a new program.

Christina posted the OIP clip on her IG. It looks like they are at the outdoor rink at Lake Placid. It's confirmed (and the clip is posted) in New Programs thread here that Car/Pom's new FD is to Manon. It looks and sounds good. It's seemingly an inspired choice, from the 19th-century opera, and the 20th-century ballet, both based on a 1731 French novel, by Abbé Prévost. The opera premiered in 1884, in Paris, with music by composer Jules Massenet. The ballet, L'Histoire de Manon, premiered in 1974, in London, performed by the Royal Ballet, with choreography by Kenneth Macmillan.

I wish there would exist an overall up to the minute database resource to easily check for new programs of athletes/ teams grouped under individual country federations in alphabetical order by last name [of the female partner for teams].

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Cui/ Rogers were interviewed in June by icedance.com

Cui & Rogers: The Journey Continues – Ice-dance.com

www.ice-dance.com

Here's a video of their FD at U.S. Nats in January:

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Cui/ Rogers are such a good team. But they have not received a GP this season. They should have at least one GP opportunity. U.S. fed chose to give Neset/ Markelov and Wolf/ Tsar second GPs at Skate America, which I agree with, as it makes sense for the development of those teams. So, hopefully C/R will get senior B and Challenger events, and take full advantage of every competitive opportunity to shine. ️ Meanwhile, mid to older team, Pate/ Bye (assigned 2 GPs), have decided to stick around longer, which limits opportunities for promising younger teams.

That's the way of this sport. Limited opportunities to compete and to develop for younger teams, while some favored older teams, whose talent level has peaked, want to stay in (which is their right) in part due to lack of pro competitive opportunities, which would seem to be more suitable and productive for P/B. This is where the sport errs. Is there anyone who thinks Pate/ Bye have a chance to make the next Olympics? I don't. So maybe they stayed in because they love performing and competing together. They are a competent team, and they have previously had creative, entertaining programs. But I have seen nothing very memorable from them over the past two seasons in comparison to teams above and below them in the U.S. standings.

Yes, that's just my opinion, and P/B could prove me wrong. Yet, so far, I haven't noticed any technical improvements from them nor any smoothing out of their rough edges. However, they are with a top coach and they happen to be well-liked by U.S. fed.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

The first team featured in the header for this discussion was Wolfkostin/ Tsarevski. They have two GPs now after getting assigned to SkAm. This will be an important year for them to standout and make a move for being considered in the top echelon of U.S. ice dance, and not just a good team in the mid-tier recently up from juniors (and that's somewhat deceptive since they had returned to juniors to gain more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and make an impression.

The second team featured in the header seems to be The Mullens sister-brother pairing. Sadly, for them, they didn't make the cut in their first year move up to senior Nationals, which is a shame and should not have happened. In other words, USfigsk should have increased the field for 2026 ice dance at senior Nationals. It hurts the development of good skaters when they are mercilessly cut from being able to compete. Hopefully, the Mullens will fare better this coming season, along with the federation ensuring the field limit is set at a reasonable limit to accommodate development opportunities for promising skaters.

 

[labgoat]

The first team featured in the header for this discussion was Wolfkostin/ Tsarevski. They have two GPs now after getting assigned to SkAm. This will be an important year for them to standout and make a move for being considered in the top echelon of U.S. ice dance, and not just a good team in the mid-tier recently up from juniors (and that's somewhat deceptive since they had returned to juniors to gain more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and make an impression.

The second team featured in the header seems to be The Mullens sister-brother pairing. Sadly, for them, they didn't make the cut in their first year move up to senior Nationals, which is a shame and should not have happened. In other words, USfigsk should have increased the field for 2026 ice dance at senior Nationals. It hurts the development of good skaters when they are mercilessly cut from being able to compete. Hopefully, the Mullens will fare better this coming season, along with the federation ensuring the field limit is set at a reasonable limit to accommodate development opportunities for promising skaters.

I believe Wolf/Tsar will impress us. They seem to be very hard workers and improve every time I see them. I too though the Mullen should have been at Nationals - they are an impressive team and their setback should only make them hungrier. As for Pate /Bye - it will depend on what their goals are and how they fare among the challengers.

 

[dancelion21]

Meanwhile, mid to older team, Pate/ Bye (assigned 2 GPs), have decided to stick around longer, which limits opportunities for promising younger teams.

I certainly agree that Pate/Bye have hit their peak, and they do not have the potential to be a top team for the US. However, if they had chosen to retire, it's hard to know if the outcome would have been any different. Pate/Bye were in the top 24 season's best scores at the end of the season and got two Grand Prix assignments. If they had retired, it's possible that those two spots would have gone to Harris/Chan and Wolfkostin/Tsarevski, the teams behind them who only had one spot, but it's also possible that those spots would instead go to teams with no assignments further down the field, or perhaps one extra spot to Harris/Chan, and then a spot to a team with no assignments. Only in that first scenario would Wolfkostin/Tsarevksi not need a host spot and free up one for Cui/Rogers or the Peals at Skate America.

Sadly, for them, they didn't make the cut in their first year move up to senior Nationals, which is a shame and should not have happened. In other words, USfigsk should have increased the field for 2026 ice dance at senior Nationals. It hurts the development of good skaters when they are mercilessly cut from being able to compete. Hopefully, the Mullens will fare better this coming season, along with the federation ensuring the field limit is set at a reasonable limit to accommodate development opportunities for promising skaters.

I think the 2026 field size was reasonable, since it accounts for the number of groups they can have, five skaters per group, for three groups. Last year was pretty unusual, and very unfortunate for the Mullens, in terms of how many genuinely internationally competitive teams there were. The vast majority of years, all 15 spots are either not used, or the last few teams to qualify are at a clearly lower level. The Mullens should not have a problem this year with the retirement of Chock/Bates and the Shibutanis.

 

[dorispulaski]

The Browns had my favorite FD of last season, so I am really looking forward to seeing what they come up with this season.! Lightning may not strike twice in the same place, but I am hoping their Queen's Gambit program will be as good as their Godfather program.

I hope they will make Worlds this year!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Only in that first scenario would Wolfkostin/Tsarevksi not need a host spot and free up one for Cui/Rogers or the Peals at Skate America.

Right. Any number of scenarios exist and we have no way of knowing the exact impact if Pate/Bye had retired. Still, it might have opened up a chance for Cui/ Rogers to get a SkAm host spot. In any case, hopefully C/R will be given other competitive opportunities this season, since they didn't get a GP. They are a young team who deserve to be embraced and fully supported.

Obviously, P/B have the right to continue for whatever reason, no matter if it seems they've reached their peak. We'll see how the season progresses. Even now, nothing is set in stone with GP assignments, as we know situations can fluctuate before GP events take place.

I think the 2026 field size was reasonable, since it accounts for the number of groups they can have, five skaters per group, for three groups... The Mullens should not have a problem this year with the retirement of Chock/Bates and the Shibutanis.

Yeah, I forgot about the forgettable return of the Shibutanis. I understand the groupings set up. But, for me, it's more important to make rules fit the needs of the athletes, and not simply to accommodate the designated numbers', organizers', or media's requirements. As it is, the groupings do not always end up turning out neatly when there are last minute withdrawals.

I hope the Mullens do not get the short end of the stick in the future. It was either them or a couple of other teams who were on the bubble, largely due to the Shibs' return. The way the ISU cuts skaters at Worlds I think can tend to discourage and demoralize. It is often survival of those who have the heart, strength, passion, and financial resources to persevere. In some cases, talented skaters decide to move on to other off-ice pursuits due to the dearth of competitive opportunities and limited chances to further develop and rise in the ranks.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

At this stage, we don't have every team's program information, so it's hard to say which team has the chance to make an impact with a memorable FD. The programs we have heard about so far, all seem to be fairly interesting choices. It seems like everyone is gearing up to challenge themselves and to create something that can set them apart. At the very least, it's important to have material that is inspiring and motivating for skaters to compete and grow with throughout the long season.

 

[elbkup]

The Browns had my favorite FD of last season, so I am really looking forward to seeing what they come up with this season.! Lightning may not strike twice in the same place, but I am hoping their Queen's Gambit program will be as good as their Godfather program.

I hope they will make Worlds this year!

Early on when the Browns announced their FS music as Queen’s Gambit, they added a post on Facebook. Its music will resonate for them I think. I suggested to them checking out the soundtrack for the film The Luzhin Defense by Desplat.. they responded with a ! Really rooting for them this year!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Early on when the Browns announced their FS music as Queen’s Gambit, they added a post on Facebook. Its music will resonate for them I think. I suggested to them checking out the soundtrack for the film The Luzhin Defense by Desplat.. they responded with a ! Really rooting for them this year!

Is your Luzhin Defense suggestion for a future program you think might work for the Browns? Cool that they responded appreciatively to your suggestion.

 

[elbkup]

Is your Luzhin Defense suggestion for a future program you think might work for the Browns? Cool that they responded appreciatively to your suggestion.

No… since it is related to Chess I thought the Browns might explore the film to expand the topic. I assumed the music from Queen’s Gambit for their FD this year was fully choreographed..
LD has a beautiful soundtrack tho and the story is also compelling. I think the Browns understood this .. (at least I hope they did!)